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Friday, August 31, 2012

Angel has landed

Back in May the Indy Blog wrote about popular hard-rock station The Blaze cutting its local programming. Instead of a playlist controlled by someone in Missoula, the station's parent company, Townsquare Media, handed programming duties to its "rock format leader" in Grand Rapids, Mich. The result was less airplay for regional bands and more Nickelback and Creed — and a vocal group of listeners upset over the changes.

“I will confirm that I am no longer in charge of programming music at The Blaze,” said Angel Hughes at the time. Angel had been at the station since 2001 and in charge of its playlist since 2002. She was also an instrumental part of building The Blaze's reputation as a leader of local music, promoting tons of shows. When Hughes left The Blaze June 15, Demonlily Entertainment hosted back-to-back nights of thank-you shows featuring a who's-who of the Montana metal scene, with Universal Choke Sign, Warcry, Blessiddoom, Beef Curtain and Mahamawaldi, among others, acknowledging Angel's 11 years of service to the rock community.

"It's still just me being a goofball," she says of the new on-air gig.

Although the format is different, Angel says she'll continue some of her old show's staples, like the Rock Report and Radio Activity, a rundown of upcoming events. She says she's also talking with her new programming director about eventually adding local music to her weekend show, Saturdays from noon to 4.

"It's good to be back," she says. "And I can tell you, it's really refreshing to work at a station that's locally programmed."